Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-04-25
FRANCE AND GERMANY AGAIN.

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1t is alleged that German police have
kidnapped and maltreated q French
official and as matter of course French
men are indignant and excited. The af-
fair has been the talk of Paris and France
for the past three days and indeed has
attracted the attention of continental
Europe. The French Cabinet has given
1t earnest consideration and so grave is
the matter held that the French "rentes"
] (Which correspond to our. bonds or the
British consOls) declined one franc. This
indicates uneasiness and distrust in
France. 1t is to be hoped the events of
this week may remove the apprehension
and restore tranquility, for on general
principles everybody will prefer to see
France and Germany keep the peace. 1t
is true that q war between these two
great powers would be a means of money
making for many Americans; the price of
our breadsJuffs would be enhanced and
many other branches of American industry
would receive an impetus, growing out
Of the war demands. But it is creditabIe
to the civilization of the age ths t the hor-
rors of war-the bloodshed, human suf-
ferlng, destruction of property, etc, ETC.,
are now deprecated on every hand and
war is looked on as measure not to be |
resorted to save as last resort, when ali |
efforts at honorable adjustments Of differ |
ences or grievances have failed The great |
mass of people rise superior to the mere
principle Of money-getting or profit at
such cost as war entails. The cable
dispatches have given a pretty full &C
count of the episode that creates the war
cloud on the horizon, and it seems that
France has real grounds for a grievance.
Germany stands in the attitude of having
wantonly provoked a quarrel. But a
prompt reputation by the German author
tiles of the action of the German police
and the tender of honorable .repartion for
the injury or insult would at once relieve
Germany of the onus she is now laboring
under and compel France to accept the
German assurances of friendship and
peaceful purposes. 1t is an emergency
that may put the self-restraint and sound
judgment OF the French to a severe test,
but it is to be hoped that they will prove
equal to the emergency. If Germany
really desires to provoke and "nag" the
French into a quarrel, the aggrieved
party will be all the stronger in the worlds I
esteem by exhausting every resource of
peace and diplomacy before accepting the S
challenge, and if it shall be shown that
Irresponsible officials, reckless or careless /
IF the consequences, have involved Ger
many in a predicament not anticipated
Dr. desired by the Germans, then France
;an still better afford to act with dignity /
and moderation and show to the world
that she is not disposed to hold whole {
people responsible for the Unauthorized
acts of few oVer-zealous individuals. I
It was no longer ago than last year that
the United States had far more tenabIe {
pretext for going to war with neigh
boring power than is now furnished l
France in the case under consideration.
But we kept cool head in this country
and eventually Cutting was released and
American honor was indicated; everybody
was glad we did not lose temper and
rush into war. So may it be with the
French in this matter.